Keith Carradine

Actor / Singer

Born: 8 August 1949

Birthplace: San Mateo, California

Best known as: Lanky, Oscar-winning singer of "I'm Easy"

Actor Keith Carradine first became famous for the Oscar-winning song "I'm Easy," which he wrote and performed in the film Nashville (1975). The son of veteran Hollywood actor John Carradine, Keith Carradine got his start in the stage production of Hair in 1969. He then began getting small roles in the movies, including McCabe and Mrs. Miller (1971, starring Warren Beatty) and Nashville, both directed by Robert Altman. Keith Carradine has since been in dozens of film, television and stage productions, as both leading man and character actor. His best-known films include Ridley Scott's The Duellists (1977), The Long Riders (1980, with half-brother David Carradine and brother Robert Carradine) and Choose Me (1984). On stage he appeared with Hume Cronyn in Foxfire (1982-83) and was nominated for a Tony Award for his portrayal of Will Rogers in the musical The Will Rogers Follies (1991-93). On television he has appeared mostly in movies, with occasional forays into series, including roles in Complete Savages (2004), Deadwood (also 2004, as legendary gunman Wild Bill Hickok), Dexter (starring Michael C. Hall; Carradine was in the second season) and, in 2009, Damages (starring Glenn Close).

Extra credit: Keith Carradine is the father of actress Martha Plimpton.